LOS ANGELES — As soon as the halftime buzzer sounded during the Detroit Pistons and Los Angeles Lakers’ matchup Monday at Crypto.com Arena, Pistons owner Tom Gores assembled a small group of Detroit reporters courtside for an impromptu interview about what he’s seen from the team during the Pistons’ most competitive start through 29 games since 2018-2019.
Last year around this time, the mood was much different in Detroit, as the Pistons were mired in a 25-game losing streak en route to what would become the longest single-season losing skid in NBA history. They would end the season 14-68, the worst record in the NBA, leading to offseason coaching and front-office changes.
With new faces in the fold, Detroit moved to 13-17 overall after its 117-114 win Monday over the Lakers. That mark puts the Pistons firmly in the mix for a Play-In Tournament spot in the Eastern Conference and just two and a half games back of a top-six seed.
Below are writers’ questions and Gores’ answers from Monday’s exchange, with his thoughts on his franchise player, new head coach and general manager and more:
How encouraged are you with where the Pistons are now?
“I’m really proud of this team, very proud. Very proud of this team, and we’ve got a lot of work to do. But I’m really proud of them.”
What stands out when you’re looking at what’s going right?
“Our young men are performing well. They’re really stepping up to what Pistons basketball is about. We’re watching all of our young men. Cade (Cunningham) is just evolving into the leader he’s always been. So I’m very proud of that.”
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What’d you think of Cade winning Eastern Conference Player of the Week, and what do you think of his development?
“I think that’s amazing. I am not surprised about Cade’s development at all. Cade has basically always been this person and has this ability to step up above everything else. Even though most people are watching and of course acknowledging Cade’s success, but I’m not surprised at all. He’s that guy.”
What do you think about the job (head coach) J.B. Bickerstaff has done so far?
“He’s been getting our guys excited and organized.”
How do you feel about the job (president of basketball operations) Trajan Langdon has done?
“He’s got a steady hand. He’s doing incredible work organizing us. Same as the way J.B. is, so I give him a lot of credit.”
Where is the team at right now, and what’s next?
“I think this team has the ability to go as far as they want to go. They’ve really got something. You see the energy just on the court tonight. Look, I know sometimes we’re up and down, but we’re doing incredible work, I think. This young team has got a lot here, so no limits on that. No limits.”
(Photo: Katelyn Mulcahy / Getty Images)
